Chemical Dose Controller
Overview
The chemical dose controller increases the resiliency of AguaClara plants because operators are only required to adjust chemical dosing settings based on incoming turbidity, not based on flow rates. The linear chemical dose controller is currently comprised of three components, the linear flow orifice meter, the flow controller, and the chemical doser. These components of the system act together to allow the plant to respond to changes in inflow by both linearizing the change in plant flow and automatically adjusting chemical dosing to the plant. A nonlinear dose controller is being designed for high flow rates where the linear dose controller fails.
Stay up-to-date on this project by checking the Meeting Minutes, goals and Challenges for Future Semesters.
Current Research Teams (These links are outdated. Please update.)
Summer 2009 Research: Surface Foam Formation
- Trying to model the surface foam formation that takes place at the end of rapid mix in current plants and come up with a retrofit design that will minimize air entrainment.
- Redesigning a chemical doser with a precise nonlinear chemical dose response to changes in plant flow while also minimizing aeration in an attempt in prevent surface foams.
Past Research Teams
Linear Chemical Dose Controller
- The linear dose controller uses major losses to adjust chemical doses to the plant as raw water flow rates change.
Nonlinear Chemical Dose Controller Fall08-Summer09
- Major losses cannot be used to adjust chemical flow rates when flow in the dosing tube is turbulent. Therefore, a chemical doser with a precise nonlinear chemical dose response to changes in plant flow is being designed.
Rapid Mix Chamber Design Program
- The design of the entrance tank for high flow rate plants such as Gracias.